One might assume earning the moniker of ' Wimbledon champion' is a door to tennis nirvana, queuing up endorsements and sponsorship deals by the dozen.
But Max Purcell is well-acquainted with the extra struggle doubles players must endure to even come close to rivalling their singles counterparts for exposure. The 24-year-old teamed up with Matthew Ebden earlier in July to become the first Australian duo to be crowned Wimbledon champions since 'The Woodies' Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge last did so 2000.
It's nothing new, of course, considering doubles has long held something of a reputation as the ugly duckling in tennis circles (at least commercially speaking). But it's Purcell's belief both the governing bodies and those operating in social media circles have a duty to promote all sects of the sport.
"There needs to be an ATP Tour 'Doubles' or Tennis TV 'Doubles' Instagram accounts. Some kind of page to specifically promote doubles," the first-time major-winner told Mirror Sport . "Because otherwise you're having to siphon through all the singles players' posts via those Instagram pages.
"And quite frankly, I find there are so many more opportunities to get the highlight points [in doubles], because there are so many more points won by quick reactions, instinct short points, things like that. And it's a lot more fun to watch, so I think that's a huge part."
It's a small-but-seemingly-obvious tweak to help promote a side of the sport that's in dire need of the push. Purcell—who's ranked 240th in singles play but sits 34th in the team code—has his eye set on cracking the singles' top 100 but is reaping the benefits of his fascination with doubles.
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One can understand why given his clear knack for the paired profession, having twice reached the final of his native Australian Open. It's even more impressive that he did so with different partners, finishing second alongside Luke Saville in 2020 before he and Ebden finished as runners-up two years later.
Both players would now sit higher in the pecking order were it not for the ATP and WTA stripping Wimbledon of its ranking points in response to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players. Purcell found that pill particularly tough to swallow given the scarcity of players from the offending countries in the doubles draw.
"I don't think there was a single Russian or Belarusian players inside the top 60 or 70 [in the doubles]," he added. "So apart from [Marcel] Granollers and [Horacio] Zeballos purposely choosing not to play, there was no-one that really missed out.
"So I felt like they really should have kept the points in the doubles, or at least looked into which events they could have kept points in because of certain players and where they're ranked."
There's a confidence to Purcell's persona without over-indulgence, saying he and Ebden feel they are "two of the best doubles players in the world" before noting the duo were as surprised as any by their maiden major title at SW19. The former "couldn't be more happy" having won Wimbledon at just 24, and rightly so.
The result cemented their status as two of the best in the business right now—yet still there's a stunning lack of publicity compared to their singles-specific peers. Ethical underwear brand Step One partnered with Purcell near the start of 2020 and remain one of the player's major sponsors, which stems largely from the personal relationship he's formed with founder Greg Taylor.
"So he [Taylor] really listened to me and I gave him some feedback," added Sydney native Purcell. "And from that, less than a year later we came up with the version that I was wearing in secret, the extra-long sports version, which I wear non-stop.
"I'm never gonna stop wearing them, they're the most comfortable underwear I've ever worn, especially on the tennis court. And I think players being comfortable around the court, that's a big part of staying secure and staying well-grounded out there."
While the money gained from sponsors is a bonus, Purcell went on to say it's "really nice to get to know the people on a personal level." One might consider that a by-product of being a star on the rise, giving a greater sense of security that brands see the value in him, and not just potential profits.
Purcell is measured and methodical in his speech, much the same as he was on-court throughout the Grand Slam-winning run in London. In many respects, his character strikes as quite opposite to that of countryman and fellow Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, who lost the men's decider to Novak Djokovic.
That contrast in personality traits might lead one to believe Purcell doesn't have time for Kyrgios' more brash brand of play. The firebrand brought his customary complement of hot-headed behaviour at Wimbledon, earning himself around £15,000 in fines for several outbursts and spitting towards a fan.
Quite the opposite is true, however, as Purcell defended his compatriot and insisted Kyrgios "does a s**t ton of good," such as raising money via his charity, the Melbourne-based NK Foundation. It's a side of the athlete that receives far less media exposure than any of his on-court antics or personal life.
"Personally, I think Nick's great for the sport," said Purcell, who looks upon Kyrgios' rebellious manner as an effective form of PR. "He puts bums on seats. Every match he plays, I want to watch, especially when he plays against the top guys. Nick's just Nick.
"He does whatever he wants, which is fine because he's a popular person. Everyone wants to watch him, everyone wants to be like him, and it's not every day you get to see a person like Nick who doesn't exactly put 100 per cent in on the practice court—or even practice that much—troubling the best players in the world, and it just shows how much talent he has. He's still, for sure, one of the most exciting players I want to watch."
Effective as it might be, the jury is still out as to whether such behaviour should be encouraged, even if merely a ploy to attract spectators. Purcell's tennis has done enough talking of late to boost his image, but those in and around the sport could be contributing more to aid him and hundreds of other stars.
Max Purcell is an ambassador for Step One, the sustainable and ethical underwear brand, created to offer unbelievable comfort for men and women inclusive for all body shapes and sizes.
